The massive global fear of swine flu over the last year has resulted in reactions ranging from pandemonium, outright fear, apathy and irrationality. Since I have not been back to the United States since May, it is difficult to gauge the reaction of the common American man or woman to the flu, although I imagine it is generally a relatively low priority in the country due to the significant political changes taking place right now, in addition to the persistent economic recession assaulting the US and global economy. So, to my readers in the US, please fill me in.
That being said, the reaction to swine flu in Egypt, and specifically in Cairo has been rather fragmented. On the one hand, the Egyptian government has (surprisingly) been rather proactive in implementing different measures to prevent the spread of the flu in the country and to prevent travelers from spreading the flu within the country. Health officials have been screening arriving passengers at the airport and ports of entry using health cards and infrared cameras to detect elevated temperatures, one symptom of swine flu. The government has also required universities to install clinics and quarantine zones within each university and dormitory in case of an outbreak.
Conversely, the government has taken some rather drastic, and ridiculous measures. At the beginning of the outbreak, the regime slaughtered all the pigs in Cairo (and I think all of Egypt), despite
suggestions from the World Health Organization that doing so would have no effect upon the spread of the flu. Only now are citizens experiencing the ill effects of this bloodbath, with trash piling up in the streets and thousands of Coptics deprived of one of their sources of income. Previously, residents living in Moqattam, a part of Cairo, used the pigs to eat biodegradable refuse, while the inhabitants sorted through the remains for recyclable goods. The majority, or possibly all of these individuals were Coptic Christians, as Muslims do not commonly interact with pigs due to religious reasons. Nonetheless, from a public relations standpoint, I understand why the government undertook this campaign, as many Egyptians feared the spread of the flu via pigs.
A second measure the government has taken to prevent the spread of the flu has been to randomly cancel all schools and universities in the country for a period of one week (early June) and now two and a half weeks (currently on break). The idea is that if students are not meeting together in closed areas on campus, the flu will not spread as quickly. Personally, I think the more prudent measure would be to shut down the metro, which daily crams in millions of passengers and ferries them across the city. I realize this would screw over the poor who cannot afford other means of transport, therefore I would only be in favor of it as a drastic measure after a significant outbreak.
Talk continues about a possible closure of schools and universities until the end of the semester in December. Allegedly students would continue to attend classes and learn via online classrooms and Internet links; however, this certainly would not be very effective for most students (including myself).
On a lighter note, it has been entertaining to listen to the opinions of Egyptians throughout the city as they talk about swine flu, its origins and its possible future. In one rumor, it is a creation of American pharmaceutical companies who seek to make a lot of money by profiting off sales of the treatment. In another, it is an Israeli conspiracy with the same motivation.
Many others see it as a "foreigner flu" so to speak, whereby blue-eyed semi-blond haired foreigners walking around the city are viewed as being more likely to carry the flu. Buying Ramadan sweets in a bakery last week with a British friend, we overheard a conversation between a mother and daughter about the foreigners who just walked in and may have swine flu. Mind you, they were more than embarrassed when we ordered our coconut macaroons in Arabic and flashed them a large smile indicating our comprehension of the topic.
Just a few nights ago we had a similar experience, as we sat in a ful restaurant (which sells different types of bean dishes) at 5 in the morning (don't ask) eating our bread, beans and vegetables. A group of 40-something year old men entered the restaurant, sat down next to our group of three foreigners and one Egyptian and began debating whether they should sit there because of the foreigners and swine flu... they decided to leave, rather than eat.
As tempted as I am to go around sneezing and coughing on random people, I think I will respect the general fear people have of the flu. I do sympathize with the fear. Should a serious outbreak take place, there is a very good chance it will spread rapidly throughout the city, as many people live in very dense areas and do not have ready access to sufficient health care.
I'll be sure to write more as things develop.
That being said, the reaction to swine flu in Egypt, and specifically in Cairo has been rather fragmented. On the one hand, the Egyptian government has (surprisingly) been rather proactive in implementing different measures to prevent the spread of the flu in the country and to prevent travelers from spreading the flu within the country. Health officials have been screening arriving passengers at the airport and ports of entry using health cards and infrared cameras to detect elevated temperatures, one symptom of swine flu. The government has also required universities to install clinics and quarantine zones within each university and dormitory in case of an outbreak.
Conversely, the government has taken some rather drastic, and ridiculous measures. At the beginning of the outbreak, the regime slaughtered all the pigs in Cairo (and I think all of Egypt), despite
suggestions from the World Health Organization that doing so would have no effect upon the spread of the flu. Only now are citizens experiencing the ill effects of this bloodbath, with trash piling up in the streets and thousands of Coptics deprived of one of their sources of income. Previously, residents living in Moqattam, a part of Cairo, used the pigs to eat biodegradable refuse, while the inhabitants sorted through the remains for recyclable goods. The majority, or possibly all of these individuals were Coptic Christians, as Muslims do not commonly interact with pigs due to religious reasons. Nonetheless, from a public relations standpoint, I understand why the government undertook this campaign, as many Egyptians feared the spread of the flu via pigs.A second measure the government has taken to prevent the spread of the flu has been to randomly cancel all schools and universities in the country for a period of one week (early June) and now two and a half weeks (currently on break). The idea is that if students are not meeting together in closed areas on campus, the flu will not spread as quickly. Personally, I think the more prudent measure would be to shut down the metro, which daily crams in millions of passengers and ferries them across the city. I realize this would screw over the poor who cannot afford other means of transport, therefore I would only be in favor of it as a drastic measure after a significant outbreak.
Talk continues about a possible closure of schools and universities until the end of the semester in December. Allegedly students would continue to attend classes and learn via online classrooms and Internet links; however, this certainly would not be very effective for most students (including myself).
On a lighter note, it has been entertaining to listen to the opinions of Egyptians throughout the city as they talk about swine flu, its origins and its possible future. In one rumor, it is a creation of American pharmaceutical companies who seek to make a lot of money by profiting off sales of the treatment. In another, it is an Israeli conspiracy with the same motivation.
Many others see it as a "foreigner flu" so to speak, whereby blue-eyed semi-blond haired foreigners walking around the city are viewed as being more likely to carry the flu. Buying Ramadan sweets in a bakery last week with a British friend, we overheard a conversation between a mother and daughter about the foreigners who just walked in and may have swine flu. Mind you, they were more than embarrassed when we ordered our coconut macaroons in Arabic and flashed them a large smile indicating our comprehension of the topic.
Just a few nights ago we had a similar experience, as we sat in a ful restaurant (which sells different types of bean dishes) at 5 in the morning (don't ask) eating our bread, beans and vegetables. A group of 40-something year old men entered the restaurant, sat down next to our group of three foreigners and one Egyptian and began debating whether they should sit there because of the foreigners and swine flu... they decided to leave, rather than eat.
As tempted as I am to go around sneezing and coughing on random people, I think I will respect the general fear people have of the flu. I do sympathize with the fear. Should a serious outbreak take place, there is a very good chance it will spread rapidly throughout the city, as many people live in very dense areas and do not have ready access to sufficient health care.
I'll be sure to write more as things develop.
1 comments:
I keep a little bottle of Purel in my pocket at all times. Use it constantly. My life is changing! I am turning into a wimp! Is this really for my good and the good of others or am I just joining in on hysteria? Who knows? Excuse me... I have to treat my hands now after typing this note on my own computer. Can't be to careful. Who knows who has been using it while I was away. LOL
Interesting article. I love your work! UB
Having been in the foodservice industry for 21 years, after being certified by the National Institue of Baking for USDA food plant operations managing... I can tell you one thing for sure, if anyone believes that face masks and hand sanitizing is going to be a solution... they know nothing about germs and viruses. The only solution is go no where, see no one, touch nothing, breath nothing. I don't think that will work for the masses. We swim in an ocean of microbes, an ocean. It is like swimming in the ocean and trying not to get wet. Thankfully God gave us all immune systems. Most likely it is those whose systems are compromised who will suffer the most. Sadly, medical services like what we have in the US are not available to those in poor countries who are most at risk. So, I pray for them. Free flu shots at Cub Foods 24/7/365. Come one, come all.
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